Our Opinion: Residents' strong support should boost IPS

Oct. 30, 2012

No other conversations are more important in our city than those that focus on how to improve our schools.

So it was encouraging to learn this week that more than 7,200 residents recently participated in a series of community discussions about the strengths and weaknesses of Indianapolis Public Schools. The effort to assess residents' opinions was led by Mayor Greg Ballard's office, IPS, Stand for Children, The Mind Trust and other community groups.

Three key findings emerged from the survey, which used community meetings, student focus groups, door-to-door canvassing, direct mail and phone calls to collect data. Perhaps the most important finding is that a strong majority of respondents acknowledge that expanded access to high-quality preschool programs is critical to improving student achievement.

As for how to pay for it, 79 percent said local leaders should pursue state funding of preschools; 65 percent said IPS should shift funding within the existing budget; and a surprisingly large number -- 44 percent -- said they would be willing to pay higher taxes in support of early childhood education. Local leaders in the General Assembly should pay attention to those numbers because they point to broad community support for the idea.

Participants in the survey also talked about the vital importance of good schools in maintaining strong neighborhoods. They're undoubtedly right, but as IPS has struggled over the years to adjust to falling enrollment while also trying to improve the quality of instruction, neighborhood schools at times have been lost in the shuffle. As future decisions are made, the vital link between schools and neighborhoods shouldn't be overlooked.

Finally, residents expressed strong dissatisfaction with the quality of IPS. Superintendent Eugene White disputes the accuracy of those findings, but the results aren't surprising. Residents understand the district's steady and sharp decline in recent decades.

Yet, district and community leaders can take strong encouragement from the survey by the fact that so many residents are committed to helping IPS dramatically improve. Eventual success will require a true communitywide effort.